Dr. Jennifer Russell Takes on New Role as Executive Director of Institute of Population HealthDr. Jennifer Russell Takes on New Role as Executive Director of Institute of Population Health Dr. Jennifer Russell has assumed the position of Executive Director at the University of New Brunswick’s Institute of Population Health. Russell previously served as the health department’s chief medical officer from 2015 until her resignation in the fall of last year. Russell’s decision to pursue public health stemmed from her desire to address problems within the healthcare system. “As a family physician, I saw many issues that could potentially be resolved through a preventive approach,” she stated in an interview with CTV’s Todd Battis. During her tenure in government, Russell gained insights into the system’s operations and the strategies required for effective implementation. “We must seize opportunities that align with pressing issues or extensive research,” she said. The Institute of Population Health collaborates with UNB faculties and other institutes to address public health concerns in New Brunswick and Canada. “The pandemic revealed our population’s health challenges and healthcare system’s limitations,” Russell said. “We must alleviate pressure on the healthcare system and implement forward-thinking public health measures.” She emphasized the importance of collaboration in her role, engaging with various stakeholders within and outside the university. Russell identified healthcare delivery and preparation as critical issues facing the healthcare system. “An aging and growing population in New Brunswick necessitates expansion of healthcare services,” she said. “We must prepare for future crises and build resilience.” Workforce planning, staffing, and understanding the current work environment are also crucial aspects to address, according to Russell. Visit our dedicated provincial page for more New Brunswick news.
Dr. Jennifer Russell has accepted a new position as Executive Director of the Institute of Population Health at the University of New Brunswick.
Russell had been the health department’s chief medical officer since 2015. She resigned from that role last fall.
She said she first went into public health because she wanted to help solve problems within the health care system.
“The reason I got into public health 10 years ago was because as a family physician, I saw a lot of things. I thought, ‘Wow, if I put prevention lenses on some of these problems, what would that look like,’” Russell said in an interview with CTV’s Todd Battis on Wednesday.
“During my time in government, I’ve seen how the system works in terms of how to get things across the finish line to have a big impact. You have to pick your opportunities, whether it’s on an issue that’s very relevant or very urgent, or things that have come out of years of research across the country.”
The Institute of Population Health collaborates with faculties and other UNB institutes to address public health needs in New Brunswick and across the country.
“Everything we saw during the pandemic indicated that we have challenges with our population, and we have challenges with our health care system across the country. So anything that can take the pressure off the health care system, we did during the COVID-19 pandemic. But if we look upstream for public health, there are other things we can do now,” Russell said.
“We’ve had a lot of internal communication with the university and the different facilities and researchers. But I’ve also had some great conversations with people outside, whether it’s government, whether it’s health authorities and some leaders in different communities. It’s definitely something that requires a lot of collaboration.”
Russell said the biggest problem in the health care system right now is care delivery and preparation.
“I think health care needs to continue to grow across the country right now, especially here in New Brunswick with an aging population and a growing population. I think as we look at the COVID-19 pandemic, we know that we need to prepare for the next crisis, whether it’s a pandemic or a climate crisis, and building resilience in our population is really critical,” she said.
“We know that workforce planning is really important across the country. We know that it’s important to make sure that we have the right staffing. Understanding the climate of how people are currently working in the system. What kinds of things are being done that are already improving.”
